Table Behind Seat Patents (Class 297/163)
  • Patent number: 6994401
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat back frame having a pair of spaced apart side rails. A cover is fastened to the frame and extends between the pair of side rails. A rigid cross member is preferably integrally molded in an upper portion of the cover. The cover and the cross member cooperate to provide structural rigidity to the seat back frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Harald Fischer, Hans Jorg Walk, Volker Schumm, Bernd Rager
  • Patent number: 6860550
    Abstract: A bucket seat fold out diaper changing table located within a vehicle. The table provides a surface for use while changing the diaper or clothing of an infant or for other activities and objects that require a surface area. The table is configured as a plastic molded seat back of a bucket seat. The table includes a surface member that provides a surface area, a first open end and a second open end. A first panel and a second panel are arranged within the surface member. The first panel slides out of the first open end of the surface member and retracts back into the surface member via the first open end. The second panel slides out of the second open end of the surface member and retracts back into the surface member via the second open end. The first panel and the second panel are used to provide additional surface area for facilitating the changing of an infant or other activity requiring table surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Francis Wojcik
  • Patent number: 6830292
    Abstract: A table supporting device is provided at an upper end thereof with a loop. The loop is hung on the headrest of the motor vehicle seat so that the table supporting device is positioned substantially vertically. The loop 9 is removable from the headrest. A plate-shaped table has a table holding mechanism. The table holding mechanism holds the table vertically rotatably by means of a horizontal shaft. The table holding mechanism is provided with a vertical hole. The vertical hole has a larger diameter than the table supporting device. The table supporting device is passed through the vertical hole of the table holding mechanism. A vertical bolt is threadedly engaged with the table holding mechanism. A lower end of the vertical bolt is in contact with a base portion of the table so as to maintain the table at a desired angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Yoda
  • Publication number: 20040239155
    Abstract: A vehicle seat back provided with a television monitor mounted to pivot about an axis that is fixed relative to the seat back through an angular range of not less than 180° between firstly a folded-away position in which the monitor is received in the setback, the viewing screen of the monitor being disposed facing the rear face of the seat back, and secondly an in-use position in which the viewing screen is designed to face a user disposed facing the rear face of the seat back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Francois Fourrey, Gilles Petitjean
  • Patent number: 6761398
    Abstract: Structures and assemblies for stowable tables and similar objects are detailed. Versions of the assemblies may cooperate with pivoting covers mounted to vehicle seats for purposes of deploying and retaining the tables. Other versions may include tables biased to fit snugly in recessed portions of backrests of seats, with compression of the biasing mechanism occurring sometimes when backrests are reclined and expansion of the mechanism occurring sometimes when the tables are deployed. Yet other versions may include tables latching to bars or other objects protruding rearward from the backrests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Weber Aircraft LP
    Inventors: Paul Bentley, Adrianus W. N. Ruiter, Matthew G. Durocher
  • Patent number: 6758518
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a mechanism supporting a table for articulation between a stowed position and an extended position. A surface of the table extends generally horizontally from an integral part of the seat, a cover overlies the table surface, and the cover is detachably secured to the table in a manner that will allow the table to be moved to the stowed position and back to the extended position without damaging the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: MHM Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Michael Peter Ingram, Jeremy Robert Goddin
  • Patent number: 6607241
    Abstract: A storage apparatus is provided that attaches to a vehicle seat backrest and that can support one or more shelves when the backrest is in an upright position and that can support a table when the backrest is in a folded position. The storage apparatus includes a pair of elongated side members for supporting one or more panels that can serve as shelves or as a table, depending upon the position of the seat backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman Products Co.
    Inventor: Kent E. Johnston
  • Patent number: 6604786
    Abstract: A support apparatus is described for use in the field of workstation design. The support apparatus is removably attachable to either the armrest of the chair, the back of the chair, or a desk. In this way, accessories—such as a computer, keyboard and/or a mouse—can be utilized by a person seated in the chair or standing near the chair. Also described is a support apparatus having two sides rotatably attachable to a chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Neutral Posture, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Benden, Jerome J. Congleton, N. Michele Smithey
  • Publication number: 20030094837
    Abstract: A meal tray assembly including a meal tray for being mounted for movement between a stowage position flush against a seat back and a lowered, horizontal use position. A latch access port extends through the meal tray from the top side to the bottom side thereof. A latch is carried on the seat back for cooperation with the latch access port in the meal tray. The latch is mounted for movement between a release position wherein the latch is extendable through the latch access port for permitting movement of the meal tray to and from the stowage position and the use position, and a locking position wherein the latch locks the meal tray in the stowage position against the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: John Williamson, John H. Pratt
  • Patent number: 6550861
    Abstract: A passenger seat meal tray latch assembly having a pair of laterally spaced-apart latch plates for being secured to a surface of a seat back of a passenger seat directly above a meal tray stowage position, a cross-member for being positioned laterally across the surface of the seat back and locked to the seat back by releasable connection to the pair of latch plates, a latch mounted on the cross-member and movable between a retracted position for permitting the meal tray to be moved into and out of its stowage position and an extended position for latching the meal tray to the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: B E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: John Williamson
  • Publication number: 20030066462
    Abstract: A tray assembly for mounting on the back of a first seat, such as a front seat of a car, that is disposed substantially in front of a second seat, such as a back seat of a car, to permit a user to sit on the second seat and utilize the tray assembly. The tray assembly includes first and second inverted generally U-shaped hooks. Each of the hooks has first and second legs. Each of the first legs extends along a front face of the first seat and each of the second legs extends along the rear face of the seat back of the first seat. First and second laterally spaced cross members extend between the second legs of the first and second inverted generally U-shaped members along the rear face of the first seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventor: Kenneth Getfield
  • Patent number: 6279992
    Abstract: A folding table for fitting to a rear side of a back of a seat in a motor-coach or an aircraft has a folding table element, pivotal articulation means formed so that the folding table element is pivotable back and forth between an out-of-use position in which the folding table element lyes substantially flat against a rear side of a back of a seat and an in-use position in which the folding table element projects approximately horizontally from the rear side of the back of the seat, a holder provided for holding a drink container and movably connected to the holding table element, a guide connecting the holder with the holding table element so that the holder, when the folding table element is in the in-use position is movable back and forth between an out-of-use position in which the holder is stowed in the holding table element, and an in-use position in which a drink container can be placed into the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignees: Fischerwerke Artur Fischer GmbH & Co. KG, Evobus GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Plocher, Stefan Kuehn, Andre Hein, Michael Keller, Soeren Groth, Monika Jessberger, Franz Kriegelsteiner
  • Patent number: 6260917
    Abstract: Apparatus for a swiveling a tray mounted in the back of an aircraft seat. The apparatus has a tube oriented transverse to the seat back around which the tray swivels. A tray is pivotably attached to the tube. A pair of bushes protrude outward from each end os the tube. Each bush ends in a generally mushroom shaped protrusion which is set off by an adjacent undercut defining a stressing and guiding zone. An elastic spring contained within a housing is mounted on the aircraft. The mounted spring has upward directed Y-shaped openings sized to receive and engage the protrusion at the backlash elimination zone and engage the protrusions and the tube. This spring grips and hold the protrusions which secures the tube. This arrangement permits the tube and its attached tray to be quickly and easily attached or removed from the seat. A transmission element in the form of an extending arm is also pivotably attached to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Societ Industrielle et Commerciale de Materiel Aeronautique
    Inventor: Robert Marechal
  • Patent number: 6170909
    Abstract: A table for holding food and a container in a vehicle is swingably supported from the rear of a supporting member. A hook that is provided for the hanging of objects from the table is disposed so as to hang down from the region of the hole when the table is in a substantially horizontal usage position, and to be automatically stored within the hole when the table is in a storage position along the rear surface of the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 6135548
    Abstract: The present invention relates to chairs and work stations. One embodiment of the present invention is for a chair comprising a base and a seat supported by the base, wherein the seat has a seat front and a seat back. The chair includes a backrest and a backrest support for supporting the backrest in a position relative to the seat which allows the seat to be utilized in a first and a second mode of operation. The first mode of operation includes an occupant sitting on the seat facing forward, and the second mode of operation includes an occupant sitting on the seat facing rearward. A stowable table is attached to the backrest. When in an upright position the stowable table extends in a substantially rearward direction. The stowable table may be stowed when not in use. A method of setting up and utilizing a portable work station is also described. The method includes utilizing a chair-table combination wherein the table is stowable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: M S Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc D. McGuire
  • Patent number: 5947033
    Abstract: A tray for accommodating eating, reading, and writing activities for a passenger seated in a transport vehicle, and a seat cover supporting the tray on a seat back of a seat of the transport vehicle. The seat cover has a plurality of connectors enabling the tray to be manually connected to the seat cover and thereby supported. The tray has a flat floor, a peripheral wall, and two receptacles for supporting cups or bowls. Two hooks project forwardly from the tray, for engaging two of the connectors. Two support struts are pivotally journalled respectively to right and left sides of the tray. The free ends of the two struts are received in two of four connectors of the seat cover. Each of these four connectors has a socket for receiving a strut. Four different ways of connecting the tray to the seat cover are thus provided, each one way resulting in inclination of the tray relative to the seat cover which differs from the other possible inclinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Jeff B. Lombardo
  • Patent number: 5931527
    Abstract: A shelf assembly is configured to be supported on a vehicular seat back. The assembly includes a shelf which is pivotably adjustable relative to the seat back. The shelf may be adjusted to retain items on its top surface, and it may also be angularly adjusted downward to retain items therebeneath. The assembly includes a cargo net for retaining loose items. When not in use it is folded into the seat for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Inventors: Giulio D'Onofrio, Theresa M. Delpup-Smith
  • Patent number: 5878672
    Abstract: A portable organizer desk 10 comprising a sheet 12 of a substantially planar flexible material, a pair of elongate handle straps 34, 35 attached to the sheet on a first fold line 36 defining a first panel 72 and a second panel 97 in the sheet, a pair of loops 104, 105 attached to the sheet along a second fold line 39 defining a third panel 103, a pair of connecting straps 50, 51 attached to the sheet in the second panel, a plurality of pockets 56, 57, and 106 detachably connected to the sheet in the third panel, and a lapboard 52 detachably connected to the connecting straps, the lapboard having an activity surface 53 and an opposing padded surface 54, the pair of connecting straps permitting the lapboard to be selectively moved between a first position against the second panel of the sheet and a second position extending outwardly therefrom, and the lapboard detachably securing in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventors: Heather M. Ostermann, Melanie M. Macintyre
  • Patent number: 5876092
    Abstract: A modular foldaway table is disclosed to be installed behind a backrest of a seat. It includes: (a) a pair of spaced table legs, each table leg having a top bent portion and a bottom bent portion; (b) the top bent portion having a spindle aperture and a curved groove spaced from the spindle aperture; (c) a front board having two lateral sides and a spindle and a pin on each of the two lateral sides, wherein the pin is spaced from the spindle, the spindle is pivotedly screwed to the spindle aperture of the top bent portion of the table leg, the pin is movably engaged with the curved groove for limiting the swinging angle of the front board about the spindle; and a rear board pivotedly engaged with the front board via a pair of spaced hinges. The bottom bent portion has an opening with a slit for snap-installation to the seat and a protrusive ankle spaced from the opening for substantially conforming the bottom bent portion of the table leg against the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventor: Chao-Chyun An
  • Patent number: 5857740
    Abstract: The seat includes a back whose rear face is provided with a retractable table hinged thereto and including a strut having a first end pivotally mounted to the rear face of the back for selectively holding the table in a retracted position and in a deployed position. The table also has at least one cam secured to the rear face of the back and possessing a sliding path which co-operates resiliently with the strut, which strut has a second end slidably mounted relative to a guide secured to the table, the sliding path of the cam being curvilinear so as to oppose and enhance in succession the movement of the table from one of its two positions to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Equipements S.A.
    Inventor: Claude Duboulet
  • Patent number: 5720515
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, especially for a public transport vehicle, is provided with a cushion, a backrest, a subframe and a covering for the back of the backrest. In order to provide a passenger with information, especially advertising information, the backrest covering is fitted with an information support in the field of view of the passenger behind the backrest. The information support comprises an attachment and an information support insert. The information support insert provides irremovable, optically recognizable information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Firma Immanuel Haffner
    Inventor: Peter Haffner
  • Patent number: 5695240
    Abstract: A chair construction for passenger vehicles having a table pivotally mounted to the backrest to either a folded vertical position against the backrest or to an operative horizontal position for use by the occupant of the seat directly behind the respective seat in the line, characterized in that an article storage compartment is carried by the table such that the article storage compartment minimizes interference with the occupant of the behind seat in the folded vertical position of the table thereby providing more comfort and/or enabling closer spacing of rows of the chairs one behind the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Fuselage Engineering Services
    Inventor: David Luria
  • Patent number: 5667381
    Abstract: A telescopic arm assembly for use in conjunction with a dental chair unit and attachable to a post of the unit. A main arm defines a slot at its inner end to receive an arm support including a pivot pin about which the arm may move in an upright manner. A limit stop on the support controls arm movement. A secondary arm supports a tool holder at its outer end and is provided with pin-shaped followers at its inner end which ride along guides extending lengthwise of the main arm to prevent rotation of the secondary arm within the main arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Dental Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry S. Young
  • Patent number: 5575535
    Abstract: An improved couch is provided of the type having a base, a first and second opposing arm rest, a back portion, a seating surface and a front couch surface. The improvement to the couch comprises: a front guard detachably connectable to the front couch surface for enclosing a portion of the seating surface on three sides, the front guard may be retractable for storage beneath the couch, and a tray may be extendable from the front guard for placing objects such as food, drinks, books, remote controls and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Inventors: Mark R. Burchett, Samuel W. Bibles
  • Patent number: 5474356
    Abstract: A book reading chair comprising a seat formed in a generally planar rectangular configuration with an upper surface, a lower surface, a front edge and a rear edge. The plane of the seat is positioned horizontally in the operative orientation. Two rear legs are vertically positioned and include coupling means at their uppermost extent for attachment to the seat near its rear edge. Two front legs are vertically positioned and include coupling devices for attachment to the seat. The front legs are positioned closer together than the rear legs and are affixed to the central portion of the seat near its front edge. An extension piece is formed as a generally planar member with a front surface and a rear surface. The extension piece is affixed to the seat and extends vertically upward a distance between about fifty percent and one hundred and fifty percent of the length of the legs. An arm rest is formed in a planar configuration and is positioned horizontally upon the uppermost extent of the extension piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Inventor: Patrick A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5176423
    Abstract: The apparatus secures a dental instrument holder to the movable backrest of a dental chair. The apparatus maintains a preselected orientation of the holder irrespective of movement of the backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: A-Dec, Inc.
    Inventors: George K. Austin, Jr., Bradley A. Rice
  • Patent number: 5169209
    Abstract: A seat-back tray table assembly attached to a vehicle passenger seat including a seat bottom, seat back and seat frame. The tray table assembly includes a tray table, a pair of elongate legs on which the tray table is mounted. The legs include first and second extensions projecting outwardly from the end of the pair of legs remote from the tray table and define respective stud-receiving recesses between the first and second extensions. A seat back pivot mounts the seat back on the seat frame for movement between a seating position with the seat back substantially upright and substantially perpendicular to the seat bottom and da break back position with the seat back forward and substantially parallel to the seat bottom. A tray table pivot is carried on the seat frame and include first and second pivot studs positioned on respective sides of the seat frame for being received in the stud receiving recesses of the tray table legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Inventor: Michael T. Beroth
  • Patent number: 5092652
    Abstract: A stowable seat back tray table for pivotal support on a pair of support arms pivotally attached to a seat back comprises a first tray table section having upper and lower parallel planar surfaces pivotally attached to a pair of support arms for pivoting between a generally vertical stowed position and a horizontal operative position, second generally rectangular planar panel member slideably mounted on the first member and having a planar support surface selectably positionable to a stowed position overlying the first support surface and an operative position providing an extension of the first support surface, and an extensible drink container well formed in the first panel member and having a vertically extensible container support member extending below the support surface for selectively extending the depth of the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Inventor: Raymond R. Macaluso
  • Patent number: 5046433
    Abstract: An adjustable folding table apparatus for attachment to a seat back for use primarily within an automobile or other vehicle, including a tray portion rotatable between a substantially vertical stored position and a substantially horizontal extended position, suspended from a portion of the seat back and employing a series of flexible straps to enable both facilitated attachment and detachment of the apparatus from the seat back, as well as adjustment of the vertical and/or angular orientation of the tray apparatus. A latch or catch serves to retain the tray portion in a folded up or stored position until it is dislodged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Inventors: Randall Kramer, Mary Kramer
  • Patent number: 4964671
    Abstract: A bus interior configuration has an entertainment station located just behind the driver's compartment. The entertainment station has a video display screen, a video cassette recorder/player, a compact disc player, an audio player and a stereo speaker system. Theater-type reclining seats are arranged in rows that are tiered upwardly from the front to the back of the bus to provide each passenger with an unobstructed view of the video display screen. The back of each seat is provided with a fold down tray table and a fold out reading light. A wet bar is provided in the rear of the bus adjacent the restroom area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Inventor: Russell Millar
  • Patent number: 4925256
    Abstract: A convertible sofa table is provided and consists of a file cabinet conformed in the shape of a sofa on one side with seat and backrest cushions and a foldable table top having two leaves hinged together which open up into a drafting table. A support is hinged to the top of the file cabinet so that one of the leaves can be horizontally positioned to act as a regular table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Inventors: Augustin Vargas, George Spector
  • Patent number: 4792183
    Abstract: A desk for use in automobiles is pivotally secured to a head rest of an automobile seat for selective angular adjustment. A pair of support arms are pivotally connected at one end to an elongated base secured to the head rest. A pair of cam locks secure the support arms for pivotal adjustment and maintain the arms in the selected adjusted position. A second pair of cam locks at opposite ends of the support arms pivotally mount a planar desk surface for selective angular adjustment. An elongated edge strip has a pair of spaced curved slots and is secured to a leading edge of the planar desk surface for movement to a raised or a lowered position. The desk is intended for use by back seat occupants of an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Inventor: William R. Townsend, III
  • Patent number: 4756528
    Abstract: A video system incorporated into the back of a typical passenger seat, as on an airplane, bus, etc. The system includes a TV screen disposed normally in an upright position and recessed at least in part in the usual recess in a seat back. The arm rest of the seat next rearwardly carries various controls by means of which several modes of TV operation are available, along with the playing of music, commentaries and the like via cassettes in the arm rest, a master array of cassettes located centrally in the aircraft, disk drives, and improved power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Inventor: Ramon Umashankar
  • Patent number: 4726621
    Abstract: In order to improve the comfort for passengers in flight cabins, busses or similar places, the table between the seats has been extended by means of an additional table (5) which may be smaller than the main table (4) and therefore particularly suited for holding glasses, cups and the like.The table surfaces (4, 5) are mounted to the legs of the chair (9) in such a manner that the table surfaces may be swung in and out to abut the rear of the back of the chair (1) in that the connection between the tables (4, 5) is effected by distance pieces (7) or by a plate (4').Moreover, a shelf (11) can be mounted on the outer part of the lower table (4) in order that the shelf (11) can be tilted down in the erect position of the table (FIG. 3) whereby table space is provided without limiting the passage behind the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Inventor: Per Muller
  • Patent number: 4630821
    Abstract: There is disclosed a video game apparatus to be employed by a passenger of an airplane. The apparatus includes a tray which is mounted on the rear of an airplane seat. The tray has an internal hollow with a rectangular aperture on a top surface which surface faces the passenger when the tray is placed in a usable position. Located in the rectangular aperture is a TV display screen. Located in the internal hollow of the tray is a video game apparatus which operates to provide a video game display on the surface of said TV display screen. The surface of the tray containing the TV display screen also includes a plurality of control elements which are coupled to the video game apparatus to enable the passenger to operate the game. To energize the game, the tray contains a cable coupling assembly whereby when a cable is inserted into the assembly, the video game is energized to provide a display of a game selected by means of a selector switch also mounted on the top surface of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Aero-Vision Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry H. Greenwald
  • Patent number: 4630862
    Abstract: A dental treatment chair including a seat, a backrest tiltably attached to the seat, and a drive means for tilting the backrest. The chair includes a unit table which stays horizontal and moves and up and down as the backrest tilts, and the table is further connected to the backrest by a longitudinal shaft and a support shaft so that it can freely rotate in a horizontal plane. By means of this structure, an operator can take a position convenient to access treatment tools and to take a position opposite to the unit table in response to each tilting phase of the backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Morita Seisakusho
    Inventor: Minoru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 4584603
    Abstract: The invention concerns an amusement and information system for use particularly on airlines. On each seat back is mounted an entertainment terminal including a keyboard and video display for use by the occupant of a subsequent seat. The keyboard provides access to video games and movies, and flight path and crew information. A clear, lens-like tray is provided such that in an upright position the display is visible through the tray while in the downward position the tray supports food, drinks, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Inventor: Elden D. Harrison
  • Patent number: 4521021
    Abstract: A video console for passenger vehicles having a video display integrally formed as a table positioned within a recess of an adjacent passenger seat forwardly disposed of the intended user, rotated from a stored to an access position, the video display table having separable top and bottom surfaces providing access to an interior with instrumentalities disposed therein for providing amusement and educative benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Inventor: Claude E. Dixon
  • Patent number: 4511178
    Abstract: Improved constructions for mounting seat back tray tables to the frames of vehicle seats permit the tables to be quickly removed and replaced by authorized persons without the use of tools. Small studs on each side of the seat pivotally support apertures in the lower ends of the tray table legs. The legs may be deflected toward each other to release their mounting engagement with the studs but means are provided to prevent such release by unauthorized persons. In one embodiment, release can only be accomplished when the seat back is in its forward "break-over" position. In such position, the legs can be lifted so that a frame-mounted stud having a cylindrical end interrupted by a pair of opposed flats will pass from a small opening in the leg through a slot narrower than the small opening to a larger opening. In a second embodiment, a torsion tube joining the leg ends has a spring-loaded pin and slot connection to one leg so that the leg can be slightly axially retracted along the tube to accomplish release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: PTC Aerospace Inc.
    Inventor: Edward J. Brennan
  • Patent number: 4431231
    Abstract: A reclinable-seat and foldable-table assembly comprises a seat having a backrest pivotable about a horizontal axis from an upright position to a reclining position, and a table pivotable with the backrest from its upright position to its reclining position. The table is further movable from a folded non-operative position against the rear side of the backrest to an open operative position for use by the occupier of the seat to the rear of the backrest. The assembly further includes blocking means effective, when the table is moved to its open operative position, to block the backrest from being pivoted to its reclining position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: Golan Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Amos Elazari, Moshe Levin
  • Patent number: 4364604
    Abstract: An aircraft seat comprising a pair of pivot pins, a pair of spaced seat back mounting brackets having apertures therein to permit the insertion of the pins therethrough, a pair of side frame forgings, each including a boss, each of the bosses including a peripheral clamping surface and an aperture therein for receiving one of the pins such that the pin and the boss surface have a common axis, a tray assembly including a pair of legs having bifurcated clamp ends for clamping over the peripheral clamping surfaces for selective pivotal motion relative thereto, whereby the tray assembly and the seat back brackets pivot about the common axis, the tray assembly can be removed without removing the seat back mounting brackets, and the seat back mounting brackets may be removed, by removing the pins, without removing the tray assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1982
    Assignee: Kidde, Inc.
    Inventor: Rene J. Brunelle
  • Patent number: 4281874
    Abstract: A vehicular seat, such as an aircraft seat, comprising a seat bottom portion, a seat back portion mounted for pivotal movement about a selected pivot axis and having a predetermined upright position, a tray assembly including a tray member and leg means mounted for pivotal movement about the pivot axis from a first storage position to a second in use position, the tray member mounted on the leg means and having a horizontal in use position and a storage position whereat the tray defines the rear surface of the seat back portion, the leg menas having first and second segments joined by a bend having a predetermined angle, and the leg means being selectively configured so that when the tray assembly is in the in use position the bend will be proximate the seat back and one of the segments will be substantially horizontal whereby the tray assembly will not interfere with the lateral leg movement of a user of the tray assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1981
    Assignee: Koehler-Dayton, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Iwans, Edward J. Brennan, Kirby B. Weik
  • Patent number: 4265447
    Abstract: A car tray and exercising apparatus for passengers riding in a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a tray deployed in a horizontal plane which is supported by a vertical support. The vertical support comprises a pair of rods having an upper end bent in an arcuate manner to form a hook passing over the back of the front seat of the vehicle. The vertical support has a lower end which rests on the vehicle floor. An exercise axle and wheel is rotatably supported by a bore passing through the lower end of the vertical support. The axle has at each end a pair of radial arms extending in opposed directions, each arm is bent at its end at a right angle to project outward from the wheel forming a pedal. A person seated in the rear seat of the vehicle is able to rotate the wheel using the pedals and obtain exercise thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1981
    Inventor: Bernice A. Shafer
  • Patent number: 4159071
    Abstract: An improved utility table mounted on the back of a reclinable seat, such as those found in commercial airplanes, for use by the passenger occupying a second seat immediately behind the first seat. The table top includes forward and rearward sections which fold onto each other. The utility table is removeably supported by arms which are pivotally attached to the back of the first seat. The rearward section is connected to the forward section by hinge means. When the rearward section is folded onto the forward section the table may then be used as a small table for holding drinks. Thereafter the folded table may be pivoted as a unit into the first seat back for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1979
    Inventor: Hank Roca
  • Patent number: 4072346
    Abstract: The present seating furniture comprises chairs, especially constructed for multi-purpose group seating arrangements for example, in auditoriums, assembly halls, convention halls, lecture rooms and the like. The foldable seat proper is secured to the side walls of a shell shaped center part which in turn is supported by a base to which the shell shaped center part is removably connected. The shell shaped center part has a rear wall, the upper end of which is permanently connected to head rest means, if such head rest means are employed. Further, the side walls may be provided with telescoping means so that the side walls and the seat along with the corresponding portion of the back rest may be extended or retracted. In a modification one chair may be converted into a desk for the chair behind the converted chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1978
    Inventor: Ralf Schueler